A Mt. Pleasant commissioner said he had clearance for a $7,000 purchase on the town’s dime, but the city manager countered that she did not approve the authorization.

While the purchase is a topic of debate, one thing is certain — the taxpayers will foot the bill, according to city officials.

For about six months, Mt. Pleasant city officials discussed acquiring several surplus light poles from Maury County Parks and Recreation Department. The board never voted on moving forward with matter.

Michelle Williams, Mt. Pleasant city manager, said during a Tuesday city council meeting that she received two invoices totaling $7,343.50 from the Maury County Parks and Recreation department for transportation costs related to moving the poles.

“The last time we discussed it in here — it was going to get donated,” Williams added. “I did not know the cost associated with this.”

Williams said the purchase was not cleared. City Commissioner Tom Blankenship — who spearheaded the project — disagreed.

Blankenship said he provided Williams with a “guesstimation” on moving the poles, but he acknowledged he did not pinpoint a total cost.

“Michelle has the power to OK up to so many dollars,” Blankenship said Tuesday. “She was asked and OK’d.”

The city’s purchasing policy states any sale that is more than $500 requires a purchase order. Purchases from $5,000-$9,999 must have three verbal quotes, which did not happen in this case, Williams said.

“The bottom line is we have purchasing policies and procedures, and they weren’t followed,” she said. “That’s it, cut and dry.”

Williams said commissioners should not individually conduct city business; their power is when they act as a board.

She added there may be some re-training regarding the policy.

Blankenship said Mt. Pleasant High School needs new light poles, which is one of the reasons he initiated the project. The city obtained 18 light poles with an $180,000 estimated value. Four poles will go to MPHS, and the others will remain on property near the city’s lagoon wastewater system, he said.

The remaining poles’ value can provide matching fund collateral for future parks and recreation projects, Blankenship said. If the city receives a grant, the estimated pole values can be calculated as matching funds, Williams added.

Blankenship said the move was like “putting money in the bank.” He insisted Williams provided permission for the purchase, but he said there was no discussion about a purchase order.

“They slap us with budget adjustments all the time, and we never know what it’s for. I do know what this is for — this is for moving the poles,” Blankenship said Tuesday. “Most of the time, we get budget adjustments after the money is spent, and we don’t know what it’s for.”

Maury Colvett, Mt. Pleasant mayor, said he also understood the services and products were donations. No single council member can authorize purchases without board approval, he added.

“We hadn’t discussed anything as far as going through with this,” Colvett said Tuesday. “This is money that we don’t have.”

Also approved at Tuesday’s meeting:

◆ writing off $34,843.91 from old, delinquent utility accounts going back to 2001. Finance Director Debbie McMullin said some accounts were turned over to collection agencies while others are “too old” to collect. The city cannot pursue legal collection means, but customers can voluntarily pay they bills if they choose, she added;

◆ Ed Brennan was appointed to the planning commission, and Michelle Williams was appointed to the Cherry Glen Speculative Building Project committee;

◆ the city’s updated sign ordinance. The new ordinance clarifies sign dimensions allowed in certain zoning areas. It also specifies what signs can go in said zones.

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